The 2023 season will be here before we know it, and a few NFL MVP candidates will be looking to have their best years to date. While there is always a chance that a player comes out of nowhere to win the award, the following 10 players are most likely to take home the hardware in the upcoming season.
Before we get into the NFL MVP candidates, we should address that the “V” stands for valuable. At the end of the day, this isn’t a “best player” award – that’s what Offensive Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year are for. Quarterbacks are easily the most important position in the game so, by default, somebody playing that position should win MVP.
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Top 10 NFL MVP Candidates
1. Patrick Mahomes
Patrick Mahomes is the best player at the game’s most important position. As long as he is healthy, he will be leading the list of NFL MVP candidates. The two-time Super Bowl champion is coming off arguably the best season of his storied career, and he did it without Tyreek Hill, so he should be able to do it again in 2023.
Patrick Mahomes during the #Chiefs Super Bowl leading touchdown.
"F**k it, I don't know."pic.twitter.com/SasN0yG2Tb
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) February 16, 2023
2. Josh Allen
Prior to his elbow injury, Josh Allen was leading the NFL MVP race in 2022. While the Buffalo Bills quarterback is a little more volatile than the insanely consistent Mahomes, Allen at his best is as good as anyone in the league. If we get 17 games of peak Josh Allen, he’ll probably win the MVP.
3. Justin Herbert
Justin Herbert and his wide receivers are finally healthy, and the team replaced one of the worst offensive coordinators in Joe Lombardi with one of the best in Kellen Moore. Herbert should have his best season yet and propel the Chargers to a deep playoff run.
What was your favorite Justin Herbert play from last season?
Here's 10 of 'em. ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/vud1hD1N7h
— NFL (@NFL) June 1, 2023
4. Joe Burrow
Joe Burrow just gets better with every passing season. Paired with an elite wide receiver duo, the former first-overall pick is responsible for one of the most dangerous passing attacks in football. Even though he doesn’t have the same elite traits as the other three quarterbacks, Burrow is one of the top NFL MVP candidates for a reason.
5. Jalen Hurts
Jalen Hurts had a phenomenal season last year, but he’ll have a tough time being THAT good for a second straight season. The Eagles have a difficult schedule, but even with that caveat, Hurts is still one of the most dangerous dual threats in the league and should guide Philadelphia on another deep postseason run.
6. Trevor Lawrence
Trevor Lawrence came alive during the second half of the 2023 season, and the former generational prospect now finds himself with a much-deserved spot on the NFL MVP candidates. While he is a little unproven, Lawrence has the talent to be a top-five quarterback in the league and regularly put that ability on display in 2022. If he builds on that, he could very well win MVP honors.
7. Lamar Jackson
The richest man in football finally has worthwhile receivers and could very well earn the second MVP award of his short career. That being said, Jackson needs to prove he can stay healthy and develop chemistry with all the new faces on the offensive side of the ball.
Rewatched the cutups from @HuddleItUpFilms
8 drops, 3 dropped Tds
103 total yards lost on the stat sheet from drops(not accounting for Yac)
Lamar Jackson would have finished 24/32, 4 Tds, 357 passing yards, totaling 446 total yards. https://t.co/DjZ3MnR7qX pic.twitter.com/11VWnF3NZI
— Yuri (@Yuri_Ravens) May 28, 2023
8. Aaron Rodgers
Aaron Rodgers didn’t look like himself last year, but could a change of scenery bring out the best in the four-time MVP? We saw something similar happen with Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers back in 2020, and the Jets are loaded with talent at wide receiver.
9. Tua Tagovailoa
Last year, Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa led the league in touchdown percentage and yards per attempt. While scheme and wide receiver talent certainly played a role in that success, the fact that Teddy Bridgewater couldn’t replicate those results tells us that Tagovailoa was the engine that made all the parts move. While concussions are a serious concern, he could jump a few of these NFL MVP candidates if he can stay healthy.
10. Derek Carr
This one is the longest of long shots, but Derek Carr might be able to generate some NFL MVP buzz in a new environment. The Saints have a great wide receiver room, a solid offensive line, and an astonishingly easy schedule. Carr rode a similar formula to MVP discussions back in 2016, so who is to say he can’t do it again?
Main Photo: Kirby Lee – USA Today Sports
